Applesauce Bread: Sweet, moist, and flavorful, this bread gets its delicious texture from a cup of applesauce. For a crunchy top, sprinkle sugar on before baking.
Love quick bread recipes? Try Apple Bread (with shredded apples), Lemon Bread (a Starbucks copycat), or Pumpkin Bread next.
Moist Applesauce Bread
My sister has a few apple trees that produce massive amounts of apples. After making an Apple Pie, my favorite Apple Crumble, and loads of Apple Nachos, I still had plenty of apples left. So, I decided to use the rest to make and can the best homemade Applesauce.
Naturally, I had to bake the applesauce into some treats too—like this healthy Applesauce Cake and now this amazing old-fashioned applesauce bread! It’s moist, well-spiced, and has the best crunchy topping.
Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients: Adds moisture and sweetness; includes applesauce, eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Use room-temperature ingredients.
- Dry Ingredients: Gives structure and flavor; includes flour, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well for even distribution.
- Optional Topping: Adds extra sweetness and crunch; includes brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix just before adding to keep it crisp.
How To Make Applesauce Bread
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch pan.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Whisk applesauce, eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Combine: Stir wet and dry ingredients together until just mixed.
- Add Topping (Optional): Sprinkle sugars, and cinnamon on top.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Variations
For a chunky applesauce bread, mix one cup of chopped nuts or dried cranberries/raisins into the batter.
Tips For Success
- Avoid Hand Mixers: Use a whisk; mixers add too much air, which can make the bread sink.
- Check Freshness: Make sure baking soda and powder are fresh. Test if needed.
- Measure Carefully: Measure ingredients heaping and level with a knife for accuracy.
- Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: Ensure wet ingredients are the same temperature for smooth mixing.
- Use A 9×5-Inch Pan: (1-pound) pan; other sizes won’t work. Grease the pan well with spray and flour, or line with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Storage
How Long Does Applesauce Bread Last?
The bread stays fresh at room temperature for up to three days. After that, wrap slices in plastic and refrigerate for up to a week.
Freezing
Cool the bread on a rack, slice it, wrap each slice in plastic, and freeze in a bag. Thaw and enjoy within three months.
Use Leftover Applesauce In:
Here are some of my favorite ways to use applesauce:
- Eat it as is! Enjoy it right out of the fridge for a snack or part of a balanced meal.
- Mix into plain or vanilla yogurt and top with cereal, nuts, or fresh fruit.
- Try one of these recipes: Bircher Muesli, Applesauce Brownies, Applesauce Muffins, Healthy Apple Cake, or Applesauce Pancakes.
Applesauce Bread
Equipment
- Bread pan 9 x 5-inch, see note 1
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Optional Topping
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare all wet ingredients at room temperature by removing them from fridge 45–60 minutes before use. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch bread pan and preheat oven to 350℉.
- Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until completely smooth (avoid using a hand or stand mixer to prevent excess air).
- Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together. Make a well in the center.
- Pour wet ingredients into the well of dry ingredients and mix until a batter forms.
- Separate from the batter, mix all topping ingredients together (optional).
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with topping (do not press in). Bake for 60–75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool for 1 hour before slicing to avoid affecting texture.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is one fine applesauce bread Chelsea. It looks dive-inable. I’ve just opened a jar of apple sauce and I know just where it’s going tomorrow morning. Thank you for sharing this scrumptious recipe!
Chelsea, the spice level is just perfect, such a nice and amazing treat for fall.
This bread looks amazing, Chelsea! I’ve had an applesauce bread a few times before and it’s always one of my favorites.
I just bought a whole bunch of applesauce and was wondering what to do with it. This is the perfect solution!
I’m loving all things apple right now and I’d love a slice of this bread right now!
As much as I love, love, love pumpkin-anything, I do love that you shared an apple bread, this looks amazing and it’s gotta be crazy moist! Thanks for sharing!
hi looks very yummy.. can i make it just with oats flour?
Unfortunately no. I have tried several loaves of bread with all oat flour and they always burn around the edges and don’t bake at the centers. I’m still trying to figure out a way to make a bread flourless without using strange ingredients. No success yet, but I will keep you updated!
I made this recipe with just oatflour as muffins and they turned out well. The second time I used some gluten free flour with the oat flour and this worked as well but I added walnuts.
Awesome!! I’m so glad these worked with oat flour as muffins! Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for your wonderful recipes they are inspiring and look delicious, I can’t wait to bake more of your recipes.
You are so kind, thank you so much Vimbai 🙂 I hope you love whatever you try next!
Hi vimbai! May I know how much oatflour you used to replace the plain white flour for your muffins? Thanks!
Great Apple Spice Bread Chelsea! Really love the look of the crust of the bread.
Chelsea, this looks FABULOUS! Love how moist the applesauce makes this bread- can’t believe it’s lightened up 🙂 Pinning!
Has anyone frozen these? I’m thinking of maybe making them in muffins tins and freezing that way?